Catalyst carrier forming machine



Fel 13, 1941 G. A. FRENKEL CATALYST CARRIER FRMING MACHINE l Filed Oct. l5,

Patentes Feb. 1s, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,232,444 l cA'rALYs'r ommen FonMiNc MACHINE Gustav Adolf Frenkel, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Shell Development Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application october 15,1940, serial No. 361,287

11 Claims.

`This invention relates to apparatus suitable for the production of spherical bodies and particularly spherical catalyst carrier bodies.

In: the various chemical arts, vit is common practice to utilize pelleted carriers impregnated with various catalytically active materials as catalyst bodies, particularly in the instance of vapor phase reactions. Suitable materials which are used as carrier bodies are, for example, pelleted pipe clay, meerschaum, bentonite, bauxite, permititesrmajolica, chamotte, alumina, silica gel, metal oxide gels and numerous others of like character andsimilar properties.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus capable of forming pre-pelleted materials, such as those mentioned above, into spherical bodies, these being known tov be far more ecient as catalyst bodies due to the lesser surface area of contact between adjacent bodies when packed in a chamber.

It is'a further object of this invention to provide apparatus capable of producing catalyst carrier bodies having a relatively solid inner structure and a relatively porous surface structure.

85 A still further object of this invention'is to provide apparatus capable of producing a product which is absolutely uniform in size and which may be varied in size as desired:

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in the-'following description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure I is a sectional elevation of the catalyst carrier forming machine;

Figure II is an enlarged sectional elevation showing theV detail of the adjustment mechanism;

Figure III is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation through III-III of Figure II;

Figure IV is a ysectional elevation; through IV-IV of Figure III; and

VFigure `V is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view. through V-V of Figure III showing the eccentric drive and bearing arrangement for the pivoted drive bar;

In the drawing, a feed funnel l. is mounted in the upper section of the frame 2 of the machine. 'I'he feed hopper I is rotatable, being provided with a bearing at 3. A ring gear 4 is privided on the upper section of feed funnel I and engages a driven gear 5 mounted on shaft 6 which is in turn mounted in a bearing housing 'I on'frame 2 as shown.

Attached to revolvable feed funnel I is acurved disk II vhaving a concave inner face 8, a passageway being provided in the centerv thereof to permilt Ithe passage Vof materials fed into feed funne A second curved disk I2 having convex inner face 9 is supported by a drive bar I0. The radius of disk I2 is slightly less than that of disk 5 Il. Disk I2 is also provided with electrical heating elements at I3 and I4, wires I5 leading therefrom through drive bar I0 which is formed with a hollow center for this purpose, to a` source of current, not shown. Other heating means, such 10 as steam coils, can be used. A collecting funnel I6 of a diameter greater than disks Il and I2 is disposed beneath the disks, a delivery spout Il and a center hole I8 being provided therein, the

last to permit passage of drive bar I U through 15 the funnel I6.

Drive bar I0 is attached to vertically adjustable piston block I9 by means of a universal pivot joint 20. Drive gear 2|, mounted on shaft 22 which is in turn mounted in bearing housing 20 23, 4engages a ring gear 24 which is rigidly attached to eccentric sheave 25. Drive bar I0 passes through eccentric sheave 25 and a split bearing is provided at 26. A bearing is also provided at 21, being mounted on the frame 2 as 25 shown.

Piston block I9 is attached at its lower end to a steel rod 28 which is threaded near the lower end thereof and provided with an eye bolt at 29. A steel cable 30 is fastened to eye bolt 29, passes 30 around a pivot wheel 3| and is fastened at the other end to a second steel bar 32, threaded near its upper end, which passes through frame 2 and a pivot bar 33 pivotally attached to frame 2 at 34. A wing nut 35 on the threaded end of bar 32 35 serves to take up or afford slack in steel cable 30. At the outer end of pivot bar 33 a link arm 36 is attached by means of a ball coupling, the upper end of link arm 36 being attached to an extension of shaft 22 as is shown particularly 40 in Figures II, III and IV.

Referring to these last figures, a dove-tail slot i 3l is formed in the end of shaft 22. A dove-tail wardly to the bears against a heavy spring 44 with its upper end, which is suitably shaped for this purpose. The upper end of spring 44 in turn bears against the bottom of piston block I8.

A sleeve 48 is rigidly attached to a second hand wheel 48 and threaded upon the threaded portion of bushing 48. Hand wheel 48 bears against housing member 41 which 1s in turn mounted on frame cross-member 48 or may be formed as an extension thereof.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Rotation of shaft 22 and gear 2| will cause rotation of ring gear 24 and eccentric sheave 28. Drive bar I8 being pivoted at 28 and carried by eccentric sheave 28 near its center will transmit a nutating motion to curved disk I2 which is rigidly atached to its upper end. Curved disks II and I2 are formed as segments of a sphere, the radius of the sphere of which curved disk I2 is a segment preferably being slightly less than that of curved disk II.

Material which it is desired to form into spheres or balls is passed in pre-pelleted form into the revolving feed funnel I, from whence, due partially to the centrifugal action of the revolving feed funnel I and curved disk II and partially to the nutating motion of curved disk I2, it passes between the inner faces of the-two curved disks II and I2 and is perimeters of the curved disks II and I2 and finally falls into the collecting funnel I8. While passing between the curved disks" and lz, the material is formed into perfect spheres in a manner analogous to rolling a plastic material between the palms of ones hands.

By rotation of hand wheel 42, which is threaded on steel bar 28, the spacing between curved disks II and I2` may be adjusted as desired. The heavy coil spring 44 supports and urges piston block I8, drive bar III and curved disk I2 upwardly. 'Steel bar 28 is free to slide within bushing 48 and since hand wheel 42 is threaded on steel bar 28 and also bears against sleeve 45 which is in turn rigidly positioned with relation to housing member 41, the vertical disposition of steel bar 28 may be controlled as desired by rotation of hand wheel 42.

It will be understood, however, that any change in the vertical disposition of steel bar 28 will bring about a corresponding change in the degree of compression of spring 44 due to its effect upon piston block I8. Handwheel 48, the rotation of which serves to adjust the vertical disposition of bushing 48, has accordingly been provided to make the necessary compensating adjustment of the degree of compression 'of spring 44 without changing the spacing between curved disks II and I2. ,I

It has been found advantageous to also impart a slight pulsating vertical movement to lower curved disk I2 in order to increase the rate of passage of material between curved disks II and I2. This may be accomplishedfas own in the drawing, by providing a bolt as'at 88 In the end of shaft 22, bolt 88 being dove-tailed into shaft 22 at 81 and locked in any desired position by'means of lock-nut 88. By positioning bolt 88 olf center with relation to shaft 22 an eccentric drive action will be efi'ected and a cranking movement imparted to link arm 86 which will in turn reciprocate pivot bar 88. Steel bar 82 is carried by pivot bar 88 as shown in Figure I. A steel cable or chain 80, passes around pivot wheel 8| and connects steel bars 82 and gradually worked out-V 28. By adjustment of wing nut 8l, the effective length of steel cable 88 may be increased or decreased as necessary to compensate for adjustments made in the vertical disposition of steel bgg 28 by means of hand wheel 42, as described a ve.

Thus it will be seen that as shaft 22 is rotated, a reciprocating motion will be imparted to link arm 88' and pivot bar 88, the motion being reduced to one of slight degree due to the mounting of steel bar 82 near the fulcrum of pivot bar 88. and then passed to steel cable 88, steel bar 28, piston block I8, drive bar I8 and finally lower curved, disk I2. Split bearing 28 is' adapted to slide vertically within eccentric sheave 25 in order to permit the vertical reciprocation of drive bar I0.

The method of operating the machine is as follows: the distance between the curved disks II and I2 is first adjusted by means of hand wheel 42 to the diameter of balled material desired. By means of hand wheel 48, spring 44 is adjusted to the desired tension, this depending largely upon the properties of the material to be balled. Wing nut 85 is then tightened until steel cable 88 is taut. Shaft 22 lmay then be rotated by any convenient source of power, preferably at a speed of approximately 160 R. P. M. A belt drive 50 may also be mounted on shaft 22 and utilized to rotate feed funnel I and vupper curved disk II, preferably at a speed of the order of 100 R. P. M.

'Ihe rotation of shaft 22 at approximately 160 R. P. M. will impart a vertical reciprocating motion at the same time to lower curved disk I2 through drive bar I0 and steel cable 30, as described previously. Rotation of shaft 22 and drive gear 2I will also result in rotation of ring gear 24, which should be of such size as to rotate eccentric sheave 25 at approximately 95 R. P. M. and thus impart approximately 95 nuilsting motions per minute to lower curved disk :rse material to be baued shomd be first extruded or in some other manner preformed into roughly shaped pellets, pills or the like, and should be fed into the machine while in a plastic, pastry-like condition. When forced into the forming channel between the two curved disks by the combined nutating, rotating and reciprocating action of the curved disks, these plastic particles will immediately assume an egg-shape, being gradually worked into perfect spheres as they travel outward toward the permeters of the curved disks. A small addition of liquid. such as water, entering the feed funnel with theplastic particles, will prevent the formation of small particle-crumbles during the molding process. It will also serve as a binder for the plastic particles, giving the formed spheres, after subsequent drying, a compactnessof sufficient strength to inhibit breakage. In this connection, the heating elements I8, I4, which heat the lower curved disk I2 serve to partially dry the moist spheres as they are formed.

A particular advantage of the present machine is that organic. combustible material, vsuch as ground sawdust, may be fed simultaneously into the feed funnel along with the'plastic particles, together with liquid binder if desired. The rotation of the feed funnel and upper curved disk serves in this instance to also prevent pil- Anu ing of the combustible material and to insure thorough distribution. In the forming channel between the two disks the combustible material isworked into the surface oi' the plastic spheres to an appreciable depth, leaving the center of the spheres undisturbed and solid. Subsequent carbonization of this imbedded material in a reducing flame leaves a cellular structure near the surface oi the spheres. The carbon formed may then be removed in an oxidizing iiame and the spheres thereafter impregnated with any desired catalyst. The advantage of such a catalyst carrier is obvious, since most comparable carriers are completely porous, and when impregnated retain alarge percentage oi' the catalytic material in their centers where it serves no useful purpose. l

I claim as 'my invention:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an upper curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a concave inner iace. a lower curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a convex inner face opposing the inner face of said upper curved disk and spaced therefrom, a central opening in said upper curved disk whereby material may be passed between the inner faces oi said curved disks, a drive bar supporting said lower curved disk. said drive bar being arranged and adapted to impart a nutating motion to said lower curved disk.

2. Apparatus according to claim l wherein the sphere oi which the upper curved disk forms a segment has a radius slightly in excess oi the sphere of which the lower curved disk forms a segment.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive bar is alsoarransed and adapted to impart a pulsating vertical movement to said lower .curveddish 4. Apparatus according to claim i including means arranged and adapted to continuously rotate said upper curved disk.

5. In apparatus oi-the class described the combination comprising a frame. an upper curved disk formed as a segment oi a sphere supported by the upper end of said frame and having a concave inner face. a lower curved disk formed asasegmentofasphereandhavingaconvex inner face opposing the inner face of said lupper curved disk and spaced therefrom, a central opening in said upper curved disk whereby materia) may be passed between the inner faces oi said curved disks. a cross member in said frame.

`adrivebarsupportingsaidlowercurveddiskA at its upper end, resilient means supporting the lower endoi| said drive bar, said resilient means being supported by said cross member, said resilient means normally urging said drive bar upwards, said drive bar being pivotally mounted on said resilient means, means limiting the maximum upward travel of said drive bar, a second cross member disposed above said nrst cross member and eccentric means supported by said second cross member and mounted on said drive bar arranged and adapted to impart a nutating Wsaidlowercurveddiskthroughsaid ve I 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said upper curved disk is rotatably mounted in the frame.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means limiting the maximum upward travel of said drive bar is also arranged and adapted to impart a pulsating vertical movement to said drive bar.

8. In apparatus of the class described. the combination comprising an upper curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a concave inner iace, a lower curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a convex inner face opposing the inner face of said upper curved disk and spaced therefrom, a central opening in said upper curved disk whereby material may be introduced between the inner faces of said curved disks, a drive bar supporting said lower curved disk, said drive bar being arranged and adapted to impart a` nutating motion to said lower curved disk. spring means under compression supporting said drive bar, said spring means normally urging said drive bar upwardly and means arranged and adapted to adjust the degree of compression of said spring means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an upper curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a concave inner face. a lower curved disk formed as a segment oi a sphere and having a convex inner face opposing the inner face of said upper curved disk and spaced therefrom, a central opening in said upper curved disk whereby material may be introduced between the inner faces of said curved disks, a drive bar supporting said lower curved disk, said drive bar being arranged and adapted to impart a nutating motion to said lower curved disk, spring means under compression supporting said drive bar, said spring means normally urging vsaid drive bar upwardly. a restraining element rigidly connected to said drive bar and arranged and adapted to limit the upward travel of said drive bar to a pre-set maximum, means arranged and adapted to adiust the vertical disposition oi said restraining element and independent means arranged and adapted to adjust the degree of compression of said spring means.

10. Apparatus laccording to claim 9 including means arranged and adapted to impart a pulsating vertical movement to said restraining element.

11. Inapparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an upper curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a l concave inner tace. a lower curved disk formed as a segment of a sphere and having a convex inner tace opposing the inner face of said upper curved disk and spaced therefrom. a centralopening in said upper curved disk whereby materiai may be passed between the inner faces of said curved disks. drive means supporting said lower curved disk, said' drive means being arranged and adapted to impart a nutating motion to said lower curved disk. v

` GUBTAV ADOLP FRENm.. 

